It is well known that "Old Nick" is frequently alluded to in daily life as the arch-fiend of the world; but the Old Nick of the base ball arena presents a character the very opposite in every respect of his devilish namesake--the one being the spirit of evil, and the other the spirit of honor and good nature. Long may he live to honor the position and uphold the reformation in the base ball world which his predecessors so creditably originated and supported. Mr. Young is a native of Amsterdam, N.Y. He was but a mere boy at the outbreak of the war between the States, but he was game to the core and among the first from his home country to enlist in the Union service. Just before the war he appeared as an athletic young fellow with muscles that would have done credit to one as large again as he was. He was looked on as the best cricket player in the section of the country in which he lived, playing frequently on elevens which had besides himself George and Harry Wright as members. You should hear Nick relate anecdotes of his career as a cricketer. At the close of the war Mr. Young made Washington his residence, and securing a position in the Second Auditor's Department, being an excellent accountant, he has occupied his position through several administrations. From cricket he became interested in the national game of base ball, and eventually, in connection with Mr. A.G. Mills, he started the old Olympic club of Washington, and then it was that he took the field again. In 1871 he was elected Secretary of the old "National Association of Base Ball Players"--not of clubs, but of players--and in 1884, he succeeded Mr. Mills as President of the National League, which organization succeeded the National Association, which had become rotten. [Illustration: CORRECT DIAGRAM OF A BALL FIELD. NOTE. For Specifications see Rules from No. 2 to No. 13.] * * * * * THE PLAYING RULES OF PROFESSIONAL BASE * BALL * CLUBS As adopted by the National League and American Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs. THE BALL GROUND. RULE 1. The Ground must be an inclosed field, sufficient in size to enable each player to play in his position as required by these Rules. RULE 2. To lay off the lines governing the positions and play off the Game known as _Base Ball_, proceed as follows: From a point, A, within the grounds, project a right line out into the field, and at a point, B, 154 feet from point A, lay off lines BC and BD at right angles to the line AB; then with B as centre and 63.63945 feet as radius, describe arcs cutting the lines BA at F and BC at G; BD at H ; and BE at I. Draw lines FG, GE, EH and HF, and said lines will be the containing lines of the Diamond or Infield. THE CATCHER'S LINES. RULE 3. With F as centre and 90 feet radius, an arc cutting line FA at L, and draw lines LM and LO at right angles to FA; and continue same out from FA not less than 90 feet. THE FOUL LINE.